A Question of Necessary Force

Essay

The University of Florida recently held a forum featuring Senator John Kerry. While one would expect a certain newsworthiness to be attributed to such an event, its hosts could not have anticipated the national attention and headlines that have followed. If one searches YouTube for “Andrew Meyer,” they will find the source of the controversy. Filmed from a seat near him in the auditorium, the video shows Meyer participating in what is presumably the question and answer portion of the forum. When his comments become disruptive, Meyer is asked to discontinue his line of questioning. After refusing to comply with several such requests, he is forcibly removed by University Police Officers. Upon continued resistance, the officers use a taser to subdue Meyer. After repeated viewing of the video, it is clear that the campus police acted in a calm and restrained manner throughout the situation. It is also clear that Meyer’s sustained physical resistance to the University Police necessitated the use of a taser to successfully subdue him.

Some may disapprove of the way the University Police handled the situation, arguing that a university should be a place of learning – an open forum where one can present their views and ask genuine questions - and that Meyer should never have been asked to cease his questioning in the first instance. The role of a university as a forum for thoughtful debate is important, even essential, to the growth of our society as an educated whole. However, if that debate is not executed through respectful, intelligent, and constructive discussion, then it becomes little more than the irrelevant ranting of the most vocal belligerents. To promote the kind of behavior exhibited by Andrew Meyer is not the roll of the University of Florida, nor any institute of higher learning.

Meyer started by thanking Senator Kerry for his time. Then he recommended a book to the Senator and began to explain its contents. Twice, Kerry said he had already read the book, but Meyer continued, raising his voice to speak over the Senator. When he finally asked Kerry why he conceded the 2004 election on the day, it was more rhetorical than genuine. He didn’t even wait for a response. At that time, a uniformed University Police Officer issued the first request for Meyer to cease his disruptive questioning. Meyer replied that he would continue his questioning and refused to leave the mic. Increasingly, his tone became disrespectful, both to the Senator and to the officer asking him to stand down. Meyer continued to cite arguments from the book, asking questions he expected no answer to. After a second request to discontinue, he got louder still and refused to leave the mic once again. Continuing, Meyer made a vulgar reference to the sexual activities of a former President and asked Senator Kerry why he didn’t try to impeach President Bush. In his last question to the Senator, Meyer referenced a secret society called Skull and Bones and inquired as to Kerry’s involvement in said secret society. At that point, Meyer’s microphone was turned off and he was confronted by University Police. Meyer’s intent was to inflame and to antagonize from the moment he stepped up to the mic, if not from the moment he decided to attend the event. He came to the forum with his recommended book in hand, prepared to use specific references from it, and never waited for an answer to any of his questions.

Meyer’s tone, and his refusal to abate, made necessary his removal from the forum. Three times he was asked to step down, and three times he refused to comply. When his mic was cut and Meyer was faced with the physical presence of two uniformed University Police Officers, he immediately began resisting arrest. A third officer arrived to assist, and Meyer began physically struggling against the officers, continually shouting to the audience. Meyer flailed his arms and strained to resist, even as a fourth officer assisted, and he was maneuvered to the back of the auditorium. By that time, Meyer had successfully halted the proceedings of the forum. Senator Kerry tried to continue above the commotion, even admitting to the audience that the questions posed were very important, but there was no competing with the debacle. Meyer continued to resist arrest, putting his own safety and the safety of the officers in increasing jeopardy. However, the officers remained visibly calm, in stark contrast to the hostile and obscenity-shouting Meyer. Something had to be done to stop him before he could escalate the situation any further. The decision to use a taser gun on him was made in the interest of the quickest possible end to a situation that could easily have moved to violence.

Upon initial viewing, the entire spectacle is very disturbing. Meyer’s actions are loud and exaggerated throughout, demanding the attention of the viewer. However, upon further examination, it is clear that the University Police conduct themselves with the appropriate restraint. They only raise their voices when it is necessary to be heard over Meyer’s outcries, and they never display any form of unwarranted aggression toward Meyer, or any of the bystanders. The decision to taser him, was clearly made with regard to the safety of the audience, the officers, and that of Meyer himself. It is disappointing to see someone like Andrew Meyer exploit what could have, and should have been an opportunity for students to ask genuine, relevant, even challenging questions of a United States Senator. Instead, we are left with an illustration of how not to advocate change, and how not to make your views and questions matter. One could even argue that Meyer should have been forcibly removed sooner than he was, instead of allowing him to successfully hold hostage a Senator and an auditorium full of students with his ignominious display of stubborn and childish actions. There is room in education and in a democracy for many ways of thinking. Society has created forums for the expression of such ideas and should demand that those forums be conducted in a constructive and civilized manner, offering proper respect to the beliefs and expressions of others. Those not willing to uphold these standards forfeit their participation in such activities.